Jimmy Bullard believes Phil Brown deserved to be given more time in which to turn Hull City's season around.

Brown was sacked by the Tigers following a run of four consecutive defeats which left the club languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

The board's decision brought the curtain down on a successful three-and-a-half year reign, during which the good times were returned to the KC Stadium.

Football, though, is no place for sentiment and Brown was swiftly ushered to the exit once the going got tough.

Bullard accepts that he is working in a results-driven business, and dismissals will happen, but feels Hull were too hasty when wielding the axe.
Upset

"Coming after the Arsenal game as well, where I felt like we did really well, it was a bit of a shock for me," said the energetic midfielder.

"I was surprised but it's happened to me before when Chris Coleman ended up leaving Fulham. I know in football it happens so frequently now.

"If you're down in that relegation zone or your team's on a bad run, the manager's getting put under serious amounts of pressure. Chairmen, owners, they want results.

"They're thinking, 'we can't change the players, can we change the manager?' That's the way it is. It's a horrible feeling but we've just got to get on with it.

"He had a great three years. I've spoken to him and he respects the decision. I didn't get into great detail with him because he was upset and obviously we were.

"But he's a man and I suppose he took it like a man and held his chin up high."

Fight

The pressure had been beginning to show within the Hull camp over recent weeks, with Bullard becoming involved in an unsightly fracas with team-mate Nicky Barmby.

However, the former Wigan man claims the scuffle, which was witnessed by a large party from the Women's Institute, was nothing too serious and insists the Tigers squad is united in their desire to beat the drop.

"There were a few words said and it just got out of hand," he said.

"We did have a little roll around but one thing I do apologise for is to do it in front of the old ladies. It shouldn't have happened and I apologise on Nick's behalf as well.

"We didn't see them and anger's taken over, which it shouldn't have done. But we're fine now, we talked about it, we've shaken hands and got on with it.

"With being down in the relegation zone, things take over sometimes. It wasn't much of a fight, it has been taken out of proportion."